September 14

Day 184: Abnormal

As of yesterday, we have now been on abnormal for 27 weeks. We have not gathered in full on a Sunday morning for what is now more than half of the calendar year.

While some might say our circumstances have resulted in our being "nimble and mobile," our present abnormality has also included our "homelessness." We have gathered Sunday mornings on Zoom, gathered perhaps in GC's, and for the summer months some of us have gathered at Sandy Beach.

Up to this point, we've been able to reserve a spot at Sandy Beach each week. That guarantee has now ended, as the city is now no longer taking reservations into the winter months. Going forward, it's "first come, first served."

Our ability to physically gather will now be on a week-by-week, wait-and-see, make-it-up-as-we go basis. Another church in town has graciously offered their facility to us. But this will require an alteration to our regular gathering time on Sundays. Possible, but certainly not ideal.

I never imagined this day, but here on Monday morning I have yet no idea what even this coming Sunday will bring. I don't know the right answer. I don't have a crystal ball, and I cannot see the future.

As a church, we are all aware of our dependance upon our sovereign Lord Jesus, right now. Only He can do what we know we cannot. While we can make inquiry phone calls, and continuing conversations, we simply cannot make happen what is out of our control.

And yet, there is much we can control. The attitude, the disposition of our hearts. Dependance can, strangely enough, result in...thankfulness.

Luke 17 tells us of Jesus and His disciples passing along the border of Samaria and Galilee. They're met by ten lepers. Jesus tells them to go show themselves to the priests. On their way, they are healed.

But only one of the ten, realizing his being made healthy again, returns to thank Jesus. A Samaritan. Regarded by the "good Jews" as a generational traitor; a "half Jew" at best, and a "dog" at worst.

Yet, he is the only one to return to Jesus with gratitude. Not unlike the others, he experienced healing he could not himself expedite. But unlike the others, he knew he was most undeserving. The other nine simply began living their now healthy lives, and around other people.

He went back to the Healer with a thankful heart. His was now a new, healthy and abnormal life. His health was the result of his dependance.

So how can I, how can we approach this coming week? With thankful hearts. In spite of the obvious and glaring unknowns, regardless of our current homelessness, we can thank Jesus.

Knowing that while we don't know, He does. While we know what we need, He knows even more of what we really need. We can thank Him now for what He will do later. By faith, we can even thank Him for our present, very dependent state.

Our abnormal life as a church can be predicated on humble gratitude for Who Jesus is, and what He has done. And what He will do, too.

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau

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